Masters leader Hoffman starts his 2nd round

Danny Willett admits to wilting at times under glare of increased media coverage

Danny Willett has spent the last 12 months as a statesman of Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning Masters champion.

But regardless of how the fans treat him this week, and how well or poorly he plays, Willett will soak up the experience of being the defending Masters champion.

"There is pressure you put on yourself and the pressure others do, and expectations that because you've done it once you should be able to do it every week, and then you obviously start to think a little like that". "And the last 12 months has been somewhat of a roller coaster within life and golf".

"We're still working hard and there is that little bit of inevitability there sooner or later you have to kind of crack in and get back to where you've been". Woods is missing his third Masters in four years due to ongoing back issues.

That happened just yards away from where he first slipped on his green jacket a year ago after shooting a bogey-free 67 as Spieth melted down on No. 12 on Sunday.

And the 29-year-old from Sheffield resisted the temptation to try anything too radical by selecting mini cottage pies to start, followed by a traditional Sunday roast - complete with Yorkshire puddings and gravy - and apple crumble and vanilla custard for dessert.

The Englishman, who carded 73 on Thursday, made a quadruple-bogey eight on the first hole before a solitary birdie and three bogeys, including one at the last, left him seven over par for the tournament. "I enjoy Augusta so much and I'm going to be playing with a smile on my face", he says.

"Yeah, you are glad to get this round over", Willett said. "And when you hit a couple of bad ones, you get the worst score you could".

England's Justin Rose, who won the first Olympic golf competition in 112 years when he topped the podium at Rio 2016, will be looking to go one better than his joint-second finish in 2015 as he heads out onto the course. Last year, strong winds helped knock several top-ranked players out of the running before the weekend had even begun. "We didn't play great toward the back end of that season, but I think a lot of it was because we didn't really get the time off in the middle of the year we were hoping for". It's not that easy. "You can't just do it week in week out". They also tried to squeeze in a few practice holes before the weather turns nasty tomorrow.

How that impatience affects him this week in his first return trip since his victory is yet to be seen. Expected to be among his team's leaders, he had a bullseye on his back and couldn't muster a point in three matches.

"It's a great place to be". It could work in Willett's favour to go under the radar, but he has confessed that his major breakthrough has brought on difficulties that he did not envisage.

Duterte fires Cabinet member over alleged wrongdoing
However, he said they were only hoping that Duterte would investigate the allegations they raised and correct any irregularities. In a statement issued Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Cuy's appointment is "effective immediately".

Hyundai Kona to target Nissan Juke
The headlamp pictured above is all we now officially know about the looks of the Hyundai Kona , a new SUV launching later in 2017. When it arrives in the autumn, it'll be the smallest SUV in Hyundai's range, sitting beneath both the Tucson and Santa Fe .

GST crosses last hurdle; Bill gets passed in Rajya Sabha
Speaking with reporters after parliament passed the bills, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it was a "historic day". Jaitley added that the government was still looking at July 1 as the roll out date for the new indirect tax regime.

Hoffenheim hand Bayern second league defeat of the season
Bayern, who have 65 points from 27 games, are still 13 clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, who visit Mainz 05 on Wednesday. Julian Nagelsmann's men staged a faultless performance against the German giants and dictated the pace in the first half.

Susan Rice does have some explaining to do
The goal , she said, was "to do our jobs", but "absolutely not for any political objective , to spy, expose, anything". A Rice spokesman told the Times in response they would not "dignify the president's ludicrous charge with a comment".

Fox takeover of Sky cleared by EU
The European commission, which has been investigating 21st Century Fox's takeover bid since early March, has given the deal "unconditional approval".

Assembly convenes hoping to break budget gridlock
Cuomo says he has assurances from leaders of the Senate and the Assembly the stopgap spending plan will pass Monday. The agreement strongly resembles the "Affordable New York" proposal put forth by Governor Cuomo early this year.